Daily Archives: March 7, 2020

2020-03-07: News Headlines

WSWS (2020-03-07). Another corporate media smear against Bernie Sanders. wsws.org A New York Times article claims that Soviet officials saw cultivating ties with Sanders in the 1980s as a political "opportunity."

yenisafak (2020-03-07). Son of Georgia medical chief contracts coronavirus. yenisafak.com A son of a top medical official in Georgia said on Saturday he had contracted the new coronavirus after being in contact with people who travelled to Italy.Nikoloz Gamkrelidze, son of Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of the national centre on disease control in the former Soviet Union republic, wrote on his Facebook page that the test for coronavirus came back positive.Separately, Amiran Gamkrelidze said there were now 12 cases in the country – 10 linked to Italy, which has Europe's worst outbreak, with the other two linked to Iran, where more than 120 people have died.Georgia, a South Caucasus country of 3.7 million, re…

sputniknews (2020-03-07). Call Me, Maybe: Russian Woman Explains Why She Asked President Putin to Marry Her. sputniknews.com On 6 March, President Vladimir Putin visited Ivanovo, a Russian city located 300 miles east of Moscow, and known as the "city of brides". Once a major textile centre, the city attracted women and girls seeking work.

sputniknews (2020-03-07). Russia Registers 4 New COVID-19 Cases. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia has four new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in people who recently returned from Italy, the Russian coronavirus response centre said on Saturday.

sputniknews (2020-03-07). Moscow Calls on NATO to Consider Consequences of Escalation in Light of Planned Drills Near Russia. sputniknews.com According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, increased NATO activities near Russia's borders will not make Moscow change its foreign policy.

sputniknews (2020-03-07). Pakistan Rebukes India's Claim of Seized Chinese Ship Carrying 'Nuke-Capable' Material. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): After India seized a Pakistan-bound Chinese ship on 3 February, defence scientists claimed that the vessel was ferrying material meant for the manufacture of very long-range missiles and other nuclear-capable weapons. The Indian government later raised concerns over the shipment with China but Beijing denied any wrongdoing.

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-03-07). A "win-win" over Afghanistan and Syria. iranian.com Two peace agreements within a week are a bit too much. Hot on the heels of the US-Taliban peace agreement signed in Doha on February 9, Russia and Turkey have signed a peace agreement over the Syrian conflict in Moscow on March 6. On the face of it, the two are unconnected events but they …

Paul Street (2020-03-06). They Rule: No Easter Bernie. counterpunch.org Former MSNBC (MSDNC) talk show host Chris Matthews' execution by the Bernie Sanders campaign today was quick and painless. A guillotine was set up near Central Park's Pond & Gapstow Bridge. A crowd of 15,000 applauded politely after Matthews' head was held up and placed inside a model Cold War era television. Ticket fees (ranging from $27 to $200) were dedicated to the Sanders campaign. Sanders addressed the crowd, calmly explaining why Matthews had been condemned. Sanders asked attendees to go to berniesanders.com to contribute further to his campaign and to nominate other broadcast journalists for executio…

Steven Sahiounie (2020-03-06). The New Idlib Ceasefire Forces Turkey-Backed Extremists to Fall Back. mintpressnews.com Putin and Erdogan met in Moscow in a last-ditch effort to strike a deal over the escalating violence in Idlib, Syria. Steven Sahiounie weighs in on who prevailed and what likely comes next.

Chris Busby (2020-03-06). Cancer in US Navy Nuclear Powered Ships. counterpunch.org In 2011, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan was about 100km off the coast of Japan at the time of the Tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima reactor explosions. It was directed by the US government to ride to the rescue in what was later called Operation Tomodachi (friendship)–to provide assistance to the victims of the floods. What no-one on board was told was that the reactors had exploded and a plume of highly radioactive material was blowing east from the site into the path of the vessel. Of course, when this arrived, all the radiation monitors on the boat started screaming, and the planes…

Staff (2020-03-06). Headlines for March 6, 2020. democracynow.org 3,500 Cruise Ship Passengers Quarantined Off California Coast over Coronavirus Fears, Seattle Area Residents Urged to Work from Home as Coronavirus Spreads Across U.S., World Health Organization's Coronavirus Warning: "This Is Not a Drill", Stocks Tumble as Coronavirus Rattles Global Economy, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Suspends 2020 Presidential Bid, Bernie Sanders Campaign Rally Disrupted by Protester with Nazi Flag, Russia and Turkey Agree to a Ceasefire in Syria's War-Torn Idlib, Israel Accused of Collective Punishment After Demolishing Palestinian Homes, Israeli Opposition Parties Bidding to Unseat Netanyahu After…

WSWS (2020-03-06). Putin and Erdogan agree to new Idlib ceasefire at Moscow summit on Syria. wsws.org Despite both sides' efforts to smooth over the conflicts, the ceasefire does not resolve the broader NATO-Russia conflicts behind recent Turkish-Russian clashes in Syria.

teleSUR (2020-03-06). Syria: Sporadic Attacks Continue After the Ceasefire Agreement. telesurenglish.net Just a few hours after the announcement of the ceasefire between Russia and Turkey, the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib was the scene of new conflicts. | RELATED: | On Thursday, Turkey's Defense Ministry reported the death of two Turkish soldiers who were injured after the Syrian government opened fire in Idlib. | "After this attack, the Turkish army killed 21 Syrian soldiers and destroyed two pieces of artillery, along with two…

teleSUR (2020-03-06). OPEC: Negotiations to Reduce Oil Supply Fail, Oil Prices Drop. telesurenglish.net Due to the decline in global oil consumption caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Friday proposed to cut oil supplies by 1.5 million barrels per day until the end of 2020. This proposal, however, was not accepted due to the resistance of Russia and Kazakhstan. | RELATED: | This adjustment, which represents about 1.5 percent of world production, was proposed during the OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria. | On…

George Stacey (2020-03-06). Who will win the US presidential election 2020: A predictor of the winner through surveys and other data analytic tools. nationofchange.org There is no doubt that Bernie will give a tough competition to Trump but if Russia provides any kind of data support to trump, he will outplace Bernie.

Staff (2020-03-06). Rudy Giuliani's State Department Coup. truthdig.com Imagine, just for the sake of argument, that the president of the United States was an arrogant, information-challenged, would-be autocrat with a soft spot for authoritarian leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea to Egypt ("

Staff (2020-03-06). Fox News Is Spreading Trump's Coronavirus Lies Faster Than the Disease Itself. truthout.org President Trump said that Russian interference in the 2016 election was a hoax perpetrated by the Democrats to destroy his presidency. He claimed his impeachment was a Democratic hoax too and last week he said the coronavirus — or at least media coverage of the coronavirus — was one as well. | None of those were hoaxes. But that doesn't mean hoaxes don't exist. In fact, when it comes to the coronavirus crisis, disinformation, propaganda and hoaxes abound. Ironically, one of the so…

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-03-06). Russia Fears US Under Trump Now Ready to Use Nuclear Weapons as 'Viable Political Option'. commondreams.org "This dramatically increases the chance of a nuclear exchange due to miscalculation or human error." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/us-completes-w76-1-nuclear-warhead-life-extension-program-770×410.jpg

news.un (2020-03-05). Nuclear non-proliferation treaty an essential pillar for peace and security. news.un.org Countries meeting in New York next month to review progress on nuclear non-proliferation are being urged by the UN Secretary-General to use the opportunity to strengthen global peace and security.

teleSUR (2020-03-05). Russia, Turkey Agree Ceasefire Deal for Syria's Idlib. telesurenglish.net Turkey and Russia agreed to a ceasefire deal on Thursday in Syria's Idlib region; after their two leaders said RELATED: | Russian President Vladimir Putin, standing next to his Turkish co…

Markus Salzmann (2020-03-05). Defender 2020: Largest Mobilisation of NATO Troops Against Russia in 25 Years. globalresearch.ca The largest deployment of troops across the Atlantic in 25 years entered its main phase last weekend within the framework of the Defender Europe 2020 exercise. The scale of NATO's provocative military exercise underscores how far advanced the preparations for …

news.un (2020-03-05). Guterres calls for 'immediate and lasting' end to Syria fighting as Turkey and Russia agree ceasefire. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General said on Thursday that he hoped the latest ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey to end fighting across Syria's stricken Idlib region, would finally lead to "an immediate and lasting cessation", that would protect civilian lives.

teleSUR (2020-03-05). OPEC Backs Biggest Oil Cut Since 2008 Crisis, Awaits Russia. telesurenglish.net OPEC agreed on Thursday to cut oil output by an extra 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter of 2020 to support prices that have been hit by the coronavirus outbreak but made its action conditional on Russia and others joining in. | RELATED: | Russia and Kazakhstan, both members of the broader and informal group known as OPEC+, said they had not yet agreed to a deeper cut, raising the risk of a collaps…

Matthew J. L. Ehret (2020-03-02). Did Turkey Just Sacrifice Their Own Troops to Protect Al-Qaeda? dissidentvoice.org After 33 Turkish troops were killed in a Syrian army offensive on February 27 amidst the current Russia-backed campaign to liberate Idlib, Erdogan responded by laying the blame entirely on Russia and Syria — successfully avoiding all mention of the uncomfortable fact that Turkey has been protecting radical terror networks not only in Idlib but …

Alan MacLeod (2020-02-29). Media Stoop to 'Russian Assistance' to Explain Sanders' Rise. fair.org For over three years, Russia has been an issue of great concern, if not panic, in our media. Back in 2018, FAIR (

Staff (2020-02-28). Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis in Idlib as Syrian Troops Advance & Children Freeze to Death. democracynow.org In Syria, 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike by Russia-backed Syrian forces in rebel-held Idlib in a major escalation on Thursday. Turkey has vowed to respond in kind, as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying "the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour." Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly spoke by phone on Friday to discuss the crisis, as NATO urged rapid deescalation. The all-out offensive by the Syrian government is the single largest displacement in a nine-year war that has forced 13 million t…

Jason Ditz (2020-02-20). Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive. theantimedia.com Russia called the situation a "worst case scenario."

Jason Ditz (2020-02-17). DOJ Investigating Former CIA Director's Role in Russiagate. theantimedia.com The Justice Department is investigating the role of John Brennan in the assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

Strategic Culture (2020-02-08). US Deploys 'Mini-Nukes' in Deplorable Threat to World Peace. theantimedia.com These so-called "mini-nukes" represent—despite the diminutive-sounding name—an increased risk of nuclear war.

Tyler Durden (2020-02-08). Iraq and Russia Prepare to Boost Military Ties as US Threatens Sanctions. theantimedia.com Iraq and Russia are preparing for deepening military coordination.

Middle East Eye (2020-02-07). Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes. theantimedia.com Russia accused Israel of "making a total mockery of the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."

Lawrence Wittner (2019-12-22). Americans Are Ready for a Different Approach to Nuclear Weapons. zcomm.org Although today's public protests against nuclear weapons can't compare to the major antinuclear upheavals of past decades, there are clear indications that most Americans reject the Trump administration's nuclear weapons policies. Since entering office in 2017, the Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from the nuclear agreement with Iran, scrapped the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

Peace Action (2019-06-25). Peace Action Endorses Ilhan Omar for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 25, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

Peace Action (2019-06-24). Peace Action Endorses Kara Eastman for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 24, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Kara Eastman for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

2020-03-07: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Another corporate media smear against Bernie Sanders
wsws.org | 2020-03-07
A New York Times article claims that Soviet officials saw cultivating ties with Sanders in the 1980s as a political "opportunity."
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/07/sand-m07.html

Another corporate media smear against Bernie Sanders
wsws.org | 2020-03-07
A New York Times article claims that Soviet officials saw cultivating ties with Sanders in the 1980s as a political "opportunity."
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/07/sand-m07.html

Son of Georgia medical chief contracts coronavirus
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-07
A son of a top medical official in Georgia said on Saturday he had contracted the new coronavirus after being in contact with people who travelled to Italy.Nikoloz Gamkrelidze, son of Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of the national centre on disease control in the former Soviet Union republic, wrote on his Facebook page that the test for coronavirus came back positive.Separately, Amiran Gamkrelidze said there were now 12 cases in the country – 10 linked to Italy, which has Europe's worst outbreak, with the other two linked to Iran, where more than 120 people have died.Georgia, a South Caucasus country of 3.7 million, re…
yenisafak.com/en/life/son-of-georgia-medical-chief-contracts-coronavirus-3513511

Russia Registers 4 New COVID-19 Cases
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-07
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia has four new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in people who recently returned from Italy, the Russian coronavirus response centre said on Saturday.
sputniknews.com/russia/202003071078503360-russia-registers-4-new-covid-19-cases/

Call Me, Maybe: Russian Woman Explains Why She Asked President Putin to Marry Her
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-07
On 6 March, President Vladimir Putin visited Ivanovo, a Russian city located 300 miles east of Moscow, and known as the "city of brides". Once a major textile centre, the city attracted women and girls seeking work.
sputniknews.com/society/202003071078502386-call-me-maybe-russian-woman-explains-why-she-asked-president-putin-to-marry-her/

Moscow Calls on NATO to Consider Consequences of Escalation in Light of Planned Drills Near Russia
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-07
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, increased NATO activities near Russia's borders will not make Moscow change its foreign policy.
sputniknews.com/military/202003071078502763-moscow-urges-nato-members-conducting-drills-near-russian-borders-to-think-about-consequences/

Pakistan Rebukes India's Claim of Seized Chinese Ship Carrying 'Nuke-Capable' Material
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-07
New Delhi (Sputnik): After India seized a Pakistan-bound Chinese ship on 3 February, defence scientists claimed that the vessel was ferrying material meant for the manufacture of very long-range missiles and other nuclear-capable weapons. The Indian government later raised concerns over the shipment with China but Beijing denied any wrongdoing.
sputniknews.com/world/202003071078502580-pakistan-rebukes-indias-claim-of-seized-chinese-ship-carrying-nuke-capable-material–/

A "win-win" over Afghanistan and Syria
M. K. Bhadrakumar | iranian.com | 2020-03-07
Two peace agreements within a week are a bit too much. Hot on the heels of the US-Taliban peace agreement signed in Doha on February 9, Russia and Turkey have signed a peace agreement over the Syrian conflict in Moscow on March 6. On the face of it, the two are unconnected events but they …
iranian.com/2020/03/06/a-win-win-over-afghanistan-and-syria/

They Rule: No Easter Bernie
Paul Street | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-06
Former MSNBC (MSDNC) talk show host Chris Matthews' execution by the Bernie Sanders campaign today was quick and painless. A guillotine was set up near Central Park's Pond & Gapstow Bridge. A crowd of 15,000 applauded politely after Matthews' head was held up and placed inside a model Cold War era television. Ticket fees (ranging from $27 to $200) were dedicated to the Sanders campaign. Sanders addressed the crowd, calmly explaining why Matthews had been condemned. Sanders asked attendees to go to berniesanders.com to contribute further to his campaign and to nominate other broadcast journalists for executio…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/06/they-rule-no-easter-bernie/

Putin and Erdogan agree to new Idlib ceasefire at Moscow summit on Syria
wsws.org | 2020-03-06
Despite both sides' efforts to smooth over the conflicts, the ceasefire does not resolve the broader NATO-Russia conflicts behind recent Turkish-Russian clashes in Syria.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/06/idli-m06.html

Who will win the US presidential election 2020: A predictor of the winner through surveys and other data analytic tools
George Stacey | nationofchange.org | 2020-03-06
There is no doubt that Bernie will give a tough competition to Trump but if Russia provides any kind of data support to trump, he will outplace Bernie.
nationofchange.org/2020/03/06/who-will-win-the-us-presidential-election-2020-a-predictor-of-the-winner-through-surveys-and-other-data-analytic-tools/

Russian Meddling Again
Andrew Levine | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-06
Joe Biden is not the only bad idea, way past its "best if sold by" date, that the Clintonites who call the shots for the Democratic Party have resurrected; a Cold War with Russia and with China too, insofar as it can be done in a way that does not imperil the American economy, is…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/06/russian-meddling-again/

Syria: Sporadic Attacks Continue After the Ceasefire Agreement
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-06
Just a few hours after the announcement of the ceasefire between Russia and Turkey, the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib was the scene of new conflicts. | RELATED: | Russia, Turkey Agree Ceasefire Deal for Syria's Idlib | On Thursday, Turkey's Defense Ministry reported the death of two Turkish soldiers who were injured after the Syrian government opened fire in Idlib. | "After this attack, the Turkish army killed 21 Syrian soldiers and destroyed two pieces of artillery, along with two…
telesurenglish.net/news/idlib-sporadic-attacks-continue-after-ceasefire-agreement-20200306-0009.html

Rudy Giuliani's State Department Coup
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-03-06
Imagine, just for the sake of argument, that the president of the United States was an arrogant, information-challenged, would-be autocrat with a soft spot for authoritarian leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea to Egypt (" my favorite dictator"), Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. And then, suppose that very president, while hollowing out the State Department and slamming its diplomats as "Deep State" troublemakers, were to name a voluble wheeler-dealer attorney as his unofficial, fr…
truthdig.com/articles/rudy-giulianis-state-department-coup/

OPEC: Negotiations to Reduce Oil Supply Fail, Oil Prices Drop
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-06
Due to the decline in global oil consumption caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Friday proposed to cut oil supplies by 1.5 million barrels per day until the end of 2020. This proposal, however, was not accepted due to the resistance of Russia and Kazakhstan. | RELATED: | OPEC, Allies Evaluate Oil Production Cut | This adjustment, which represents about 1.5 percent of world production, was proposed during the OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria. | On…
telesurenglish.net/news/opec-covid-19-demands-cuts-in-global-oil-production–20200306-0005.html

The New Idlib Ceasefire Forces Turkey-Backed Extremists to Fall Back
Steven Sahiounie | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-06
Putin and Erdogan met in Moscow in a last-ditch effort to strike a deal over the escalating violence in Idlib, Syria. Steven Sahiounie weighs in on who prevailed and what likely comes next.
mintpressnews.com/russia-turkey-ceasefire-moscow-idlib/265541/

Fox News Is Spreading Trump's Coronavirus Lies Faster Than the Disease Itself
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-03-06
President Trump said that Russian interference in the 2016 election was a hoax perpetrated by the Democrats to destroy his presidency. He claimed his impeachment was a Democratic hoax too and last week he said the coronavirus

Russian Meddling Again
Andrew Levine | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-06
Joe Biden is not the only bad idea, way past its "best if sold by" date, that the Clintonites who call the shots for the Democratic Party have resurrected; a Cold War with Russia and with China too, insofar as it can be done in a way that does not imperil the American economy, is…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/06/russian-meddling-again/

Cancer in US Navy Nuclear Powered Ships
Chris Busby | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-06
In 2011, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan was about 100km off the coast of Japan at the time of the Tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima reactor explosions. It was directed by the US government to ride to the rescue in what was later called Operation Tomodachi (friendship)–to provide assistance to the victims of the floods. What no-one on board was told was that the reactors had exploded and a plume of highly radioactive material was blowing east from the site into the path of the vessel. Of course, when this arrived, all the radiation monitors on the boat started screaming, and the planes…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/06/cancer-in-us-navy-nuclear-powered-ships/

Cancer in US Navy Nuclear Powered Ships
Chris Busby | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-06
In 2011, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan was about 100km off the coast of Japan at the time of the Tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima reactor explosions. It was directed by the US government to ride to the rescue in what was later called Operation Tomodachi (friendship)–to provide assistance to the victims of the floods. What no-one on board was told was that the reactors had exploded and a plume of highly radioactive material was blowing east from the site into the path of the vessel. Of course, when this arrived, all the radiation monitors on the boat started screaming, and the planes…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/06/cancer-in-us-navy-nuclear-powered-ships/

Russia Fears US Under Trump Now Ready to Use Nuclear Weapons as 'Viable Political Option'
Eoin Higgins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-03-06
"This dramatically increases the chance of a nuclear exchange due to miscalculation or human error." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/us-completes-w76-1-nuclear-warhead-life-extension-program-770×410.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/03/06/russia-fears-us-under-trump-now-ready-use-nuclear-weapons-viable-political-option?cd-origin=rss

Nuclear non-proliferation treaty an essential pillar for peace and security
news.un.org | 2020-03-05
Countries meeting in New York next month to review progress on nuclear non-proliferation are being urged by the UN Secretary-General to use the opportunity to strengthen global peace and security.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1058801

Russia, Turkey Agree Ceasefire Deal for Syria's Idlib
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-05
Turkey and Russia agreed to a ceasefire deal on Thursday in Syria's Idlib region; after their two leaders said after talks in Moscow to contain a conflict that has displaced nearly a million people in three months. | RELATED: | Russia Denies Responsibility for Humanitarian Crisis in Idlib | Russian President Vladimir Putin, standing next to his Turkish co…
telesurenglish.net/news/Russia-Turkey-Agree-Ceasefire-Deal-for-Syrias-Idlib-20200305-0017.html

Defender 2020: Largest Mobilisation of NATO Troops Against Russia in 25 Years
Markus Salzmann | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-05
The largest deployment of troops across the Atlantic in 25 years entered its main phase last weekend within the framework of the Defender Europe 2020 exercise. The scale of NATO's provocative military exercise underscores how far advanced the preparations for …
globalresearch.ca/defender-2020-largest-mobilisation-nato-troops-against-russia-25-years/5705660

Guterres calls for 'immediate and lasting' end to Syria fighting as Turkey and Russia agree ceasefire
news.un.org | 2020-03-05
The UN Secretary-General said on Thursday that he hoped the latest ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey to end fighting across Syria's stricken Idlib region, would finally lead to "an immediate and lasting cessation", that would protect civilian lives.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1058781

OPEC Backs Biggest Oil Cut Since 2008 Crisis, Awaits Russia
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-05
OPEC agreed on Thursday to cut oil output by an extra 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter of 2020 to support prices that have been hit by the coronavirus outbreak but made its action conditional on Russia and others joining in. | RELATED: | Stock Markets, Oil Sink as Coronavirus Pandemic Fear Spreads | Russia and Kazakhstan, both members of the broader and informal group known as OPEC+, said they had not yet agreed to a deeper cut, raising the risk of a collaps…
telesurenglish.net/news/OPEC-Backs-Biggest-Oil-Cut-Since-2008-Crisis-Awaits-Russia-20200305-0019.html

Escalating war in Idlib creates new refugee crisis
Peter Boyle | greenleft.org.au | 2020-03-05
Middle East Refugees & migrants Chris SleeIssue 1256 Syria Northern SyriaMarch 5, 2020A February 27 Russian and Syrian airstrike on a Turkish military convoy in Idlib province

Did Turkey Just Sacrifice Their Own Troops to Protect Al-Qaeda?
Matthew J. L. Ehret | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-02
After 33 Turkish troops were killed in a Syrian army offensive on February 27 amidst the current Russia-backed campaign to liberate Idlib, Erdogan responded by laying the blame entirely on Russia and Syria

Media Stoop to 'Russian Assistance' to Explain Sanders' Rise
Alan MacLeod | fair.org | 2020-02-29
For over three years, Russia has been an issue of great concern, if not panic, in our media. Back in 2018, FAIR ( 7/27/18) warned that if Bernie Sanders or another progressive movement picked up steam, corporate media would claim that "any challenge to the establishment is likely a Kremlin-funded astroturf effort." For establishment Democrats, we wrote: Russiagate allows them to ignore calls for change and not scrutinize why they lost to the most unpopular presidential candidate in…
fair.org/home/media-stoop-to-russian-assistance-to-explain-sanders-rise/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=media-stoop-to-russian-assistance-to-explain-sanders-rise

Media Stoop to 'Russian Assistance' to Explain Sanders' Rise
Alan MacLeod | fair.org | 2020-02-29
For over three years, Russia has been an issue of great concern, if not panic, in our media. Back in 2018, FAIR ( 7/27/18) warned that if Bernie Sanders or another progressive movement picked up steam, corporate media would claim that "any challenge to the establishment is likely a Kremlin-funded astroturf effort." For establishment Democrats, we wrote: Russiagate allows them to ignore calls for change and not scrutinize why they lost to the most unpopular presidential candidate in…
fair.org/home/media-stoop-to-russian-assistance-to-explain-sanders-rise/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=media-stoop-to-russian-assistance-to-explain-sanders-rise

Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis in Idlib as Syrian Troops Advance & Children Freeze to Death
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-02-28
In Syria, 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike by Russia-backed Syrian forces in rebel-held Idlib in a major escalation on Thursday. Turkey has vowed to respond in kind, as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying "the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour." Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly spoke by phone on Friday to discuss the crisis, as NATO urged rapid deescalation. The all-out offensive by the Syrian government is the single largest displacement in a nine-year war that has forced 13 million t…
www.democracynow.org/2020/2/28/idlib_syria_assad_turkey_russia

Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive
Jason Ditz | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-20
Russia called the situation a "worst case scenario."

Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive

DOJ Investigating Former CIA Director's Role in Russiagate
Jason Ditz | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-17
The Justice Department is investigating the role of John Brennan in the assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

DOJ Investigating Former CIA Director’s Role in Russiagate

US Deploys 'Mini-Nukes' in Deplorable Threat to World Peace
Strategic Culture | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-08
These so-called "mini-nukes" represent–despite the diminutive-sounding name–an increased risk of nuclear war.

US Deploys ‘Mini-Nukes’ in Deplorable Threat to World Peace

Iraq and Russia Prepare to Boost Military Ties as US Threatens Sanctions
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-08
Iraq and Russia are preparing for deepening military coordination.

Iraq and Russia Prepare to Boost Military Ties as US Threatens Sanctions

Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes
Middle East Eye | theantimedia.com | 2020-02-07
Russia accused Israel of "making a total mockery of the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."

Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes